Carlisle United lost a two-goal lead as they had to settle for yet another draw against Blackpool.

In front of a big travelling support at Bloomfield Road, two goals in seven second-half minutes from Charlie Wyke and Michael Raynes put Keith Curle's side in command.

But Blackpool hit back through Kyle Vassell and Armand Gnanduillet.

It meant the Blues drew their sixth game out of eight in League Two this campaign.

They remain unbeaten, but their struggle to turn draws into victories leaves them eighth in the table.

United fans vastly outnumbered the home support at Blackpool, where supporters are staying away in their droves in protest at the Oyston regime.

The official number of travelling fans was given as 2,752 in an attendance of 5,471 - but there appeared to be an even greater gulf as Carlisle's faithful packed out one end at the Seasiders' ground, which otherwise looked very sparsely populated.

They watched Curle's side struggle to make headway in a disappointing first half, despite the manager having started with two up front in Wyke and Jabo Ibehre.

Jason Kennedy also returned to midfield, with Luke Joyce on the bench, while Reggie Lambe was recalled at Mark Ellis' expense in a 4-4-2 formation.

United, though, were nowhere near their most fluent, often reliant on long throws and other direct deliveries as they struggled to serve Wyke and Ibehre with chances.

Other than an early attempt by the latter, Blackpool made more of the running, with ex-Blues midfielder Brad Potts - booed by many travelling fans - often a threat.

The former United youth player shot just wide on 25 minutes after challenging Mike Jones in midfield, while Gnanduillet headed narrowly wide in the early stages.

Blues keeper Mark Gillespie ensured his side were level at the break, first tipping over a long-range Jack Payne attempt, then making two crucial saves shortly before half-time.

One saw the United No1 tip wide a Vassell attempt, and then Gillespie superbly denied former Carlisle defender Tom Aldred from close range.

Curle made a double substitution at the break - sending on Joyce and Ellis for Lambe and Macaulay Gillesphey - and saw almost immediate improvement as Carlisle surged into the lead.

Their opener came on 51 minutes when an Ibehre effort looped against the crossbar and Wyke fired home the rebound for his fifth of the season.

Things got even better in the 58th minute when defender Raynes rose to head home Nicky Adams' inswinging free-kick.

But Carlisle wobbled two minutes later when Vassell was allowed space to nod home from close range.

Curle's response was to replace Ibehre with an extra defender in Shaun Brisley.

But Blackpool, who threw on additional strikers, built further pressure which told in the 75th minute when Raynes attempted to head back to Gillespie, but was shrugged aside by Gnanduillet who went through to score.

United struggled to create many further chances, with Gary Bowyer's side the more dangerous in the closing stages through Payne, Gnanguillet and sub Jamille Matt.

Wyke flicked a Tom Miller cross into the side-netting in injury-time but it ended in a second successive 2-2 draw for the Cumbrians.

Blackpool: Slocombe, Mellor, Taylor, Aldred, Robertson, McAlister, Payne, Potts, Philliskirk (Matt 69), Vassell, Gnanduillet (Daniel 85). Not used: Lyness, Aimson, Cullen, Yeates, Cain.

Carlisle: Gillespie, T Miller, Grainger, Raynes, Gillesphey (Ellis 46), Jones, Kennedy, Adams, Lambe (Joyce 46), Wyke, Ibehre (Brisley 66). Not used: Crocombe, Penn, Devitt, S Miller.